i dont want to destroy there pelts so i think i will leave the 243s alone

Then that limits the choices. From what I've experienced, the hot .22 cartridges are pretty hard on fur, too. The 22-250 is just about as hard on fur at times as the .243, and I've shot a lot of coyotes with each.

If you want nice fur without large holes, stick with the .17 or .20 caliber centerfires. Maybe a .223, depending on the load.

You can load a 55 grain bullet in a .243 down to 22-250 levels and get just about the same results, but it's still going to be hard on fur.

I have the .204 in the Savage Mod. 10 predator. So far the yote count with it has been 14, with one run away..bad hit..The longest shot was 412 yards on a coyote which was ranged by my pardner before the shot,it was a fatal shot but he simply jumped up in the air and ...walked... up the trail about 60 yards, layed down and died! The .204 is great on yotes!

Too the original poster, I don't know if there really is a "Best" coyote caliber? I believe that a good coyote hunter will get coyotes regardless of what caliber he uses. He will have his preference though.

Fur friendly or not, can be an issue. Are you going to shoot a lot of cats, or mostly coyotes? Large numbers of coyotes, or just a few, with minimal sewing involved. Do you even give a hoot about the fur?

Will you shoot this rifle a lot or just a couple of boxes of cartridges a year?

I had been Hunting Coyotes with my Browning A-bolt Hunter in .243 using 100 grain Hornady Custom factory loads....little hard on the pelts but nothing got away either!

I went with a CZ "Varmint" heavy barrel model 527 in a .204 and I am very impressed with the knock-down power and light recoil of this caliber,plus it is very easy on the pelts/hides!I'm using 32 grain wicnchester ballistic tip bullets but will be switching to 39 grain Sierra Blitz Kings.The 40 grain Hornady V-max also shot well in my .204 Rifle.So far I've killed 9 Coyotes with my .204 and only 1 made it about 30 yards and dropped,got 1 double kill on 2 Female Coyotes and each died within 10-15 yards of each other...most of my shots were actually pretty close range from 30 yards,50-60 and out to around 125-150 yards at the furtherest.

I have a large rifle battery for varmint and coyote hunting. I've shot coyotes with the 221 Rem Fireball, 222 Rem, 223 Rem, 204 Ruger, 22-250 Rem, and 243 Win. But, if I were only to have one rifle for coyote hunting, it would be my all time favorite, hands down....the 22-250.